Hamilton is officially the most annoying player I have ever watched

[DannyZ]

2004 NBA Playoffs - The Pistons eliminate the Pacers in what is Reggie Miller's last NBA game.  Reggie Miller meets Hamilton after the game and asks Rip to carry on his tradition of annoying play.

Now in the year 2008, Hamilton has made the leap.  He has matched Miller's annoying level and even found new innovative ways to be hated.  And they said it couldn't be done.

He has fully matched Reggie's flopping on defense and offense.  He literally commits about 72 fouls a game with all his clutching and hand fighting.  Scratching and tripping is fair game too.  If Rip played pick-up ball, he'd get punched in the face (or the mask).  On D, he gets you with 10 little fouls instead of 1 big one to evade detection just like Bruce Bowen, another all-annoying teammate.

He has Reggie's whiny face every time he commits a turnover or actually gets whistled for one of his many fouls.

He DOESN'T talk trash like Reggie. This actually made Reggie somewhat likable as a competitor (especially against the Knicks). 

He developed soccer-level flopping and injury-faking skills.  Reggie never learned this.  Notice Hamilton's teammates don't even check on him as he rolls on the floor and screams in pain.  They know he's faking and are embarrassed.  When is he actually hurt?  No one knows.

He wears a mask.  Brilliant annoying strategy.  Now whenever he wants to complain to the ref, he points out how his mask is slightly ajar.  For extra annoyance, he spends 2 minutes fixing his mask before free throws.  He even had Antonio McDyess wearing one every 3rd game.  Tonight, ESPN had a half-time segment, "Behind the Mask".  I couldn't watch as I would have kicked my TV in pure annoyance.  I have limits to what I can handle.  Next season he will probably wear a helmet.  In 2010 he will play basketball in a plastic bubble.

[Evantime34]

You are leaving out a key criteria that makes him an elite player with respect to annoyance. Most of his teammates have similar traits (this is also true of Bruce Bowen). Rasheed has never fouled anyone throughout his career in his opinion. All the gaurds on the team violently hand check but when they are called for it are shocked. Prince's game isn't annoying but it is annoying how a man can be near 6'7 and only weigh 210 (if that).

Also the announcer on the all annoying team would have to be the third wheel in what is otherwise a great announcing team Mike Green (i think that's his name). With how he calls every foul a "hard foul" thinks everything should be a flagrant and gets more excited when the Pistons score he is headlining the all annoying team. He clearly has never played basketball in his life.

[Bleedgreen]

I 100% completely agree. I flat out hate this man's style of play and all my buddies who get my text messages during the game can attest to my hatred of this guy's style. He's dirty, he's cheap, he's a flopper, and what's worse is the refs let him get away with it. We need to send Scal in to deliver a Horry style body check into the scorers table!

Which makes me bring up the fact that Scal was actually suited up for game 5. Huh?

[Bleedgreen]

Evantime34, FYI it's Mike Breen. And I agree wholeheartedly. Awful announcer. Do play by play, not color Mike.

[DannyZ]

You are leaving out a key criteria that makes him an elite player with respect to annoyance. Most of his teammates have similar traits (this is also true of Bruce Bowen). Rasheed has never fouled anyone throughout his career in his opinion. All the gaurds on the team violently hand check but when they are called for it are shocked. Prince's game isn't annoying but it is annoying how a man can be near 6'7 and only weigh 210 (if that).

Also the announcer on the all annoying team would have to be the third wheel in what is otherwise a great announcing team Mike Green (i think that's his name). With how he calls every foul a "hard foul" thinks everything should be a flagrant and gets more excited when the Pistons score he is headlining the all annoying team. He clearly has never played basketball in his life.

The mask and the injury-faking put him over the top.  Ray is wishing he never hosted him for that UConn visit.

[FierceLikePaulPierce]

You are leaving out a key criteria that makes him an elite player with respect to annoyance. Most of his teammates have similar traits (this is also true of Bruce Bowen). Rasheed has never fouled anyone throughout his career in his opinion. All the gaurds on the team violently hand check but when they are called for it are shocked. Prince's game isn't annoying but it is annoying how a man can be near 6'7 and only weigh 210 (if that).

Also the announcer on the all annoying team would have to be the third wheel in what is otherwise a great announcing team Mike Green (i think that's his name). With how he calls every foul a "hard foul" thinks everything should be a flagrant and gets more excited when the Pistons score he is headlining the all annoying team. He clearly has never played basketball in his life.

What is the key criteria he is leaving out? Did I miss something?

TP to the OP for the rant, btw.

[Raygus]

I 100% completely agree. I flat out hate this man's style of play and all my buddies who get my text messages during the game can attest to my hatred of this guy's style. He's dirty, he's cheap, he's a flopper, and what's worse is the refs let him get away with it. We need to send Scal in to deliver a Horry style body check into the scorers table!

Which makes me bring up the fact that Scal was actually suited up for game 5. Huh?

tony allen injured his achilles tendon during practice, giving scal the opportunity to put on some sweats.

i agree on all counts about rip. i guess i've never really paid much attention to his all around game until this series, i just always thought he was a nice player from UConn with a goofy face mask.

[P2]

2004 NBA Playoffs - The Pistons eliminate the Pacers in what is Reggie Miller's last NBA game.  Reggie Miller meets Hamilton after the game and asks Rip to carry on his tradition of annoying play.

Now in the year 2008, Hamilton has made the leap.  He has matched Miller's annoying level and even found new innovative ways to be hated.  And they said it couldn't be done.

He has fully matched Reggie's flopping on defense and offense.  He literally commits about 72 fouls a game with all his clutching and hand fighting.  Scratching and tripping is fair game too.  If Rip played pick-up ball, he'd get punched in the face (or the mask).  On D, he gets you with 10 little fouls instead of 1 big one to evade detection just like Bruce Bowen, another all-annoying teammate.

He has Reggie's whiny face every time he commits a turnover or actually gets whistled for one of his many fouls.

He DOESN'T talk trash like Reggie. This actually made Reggie somewhat likable as a competitor (especially against the Knicks). 

He developed soccer-level flopping and injury-faking skills.  Reggie never learned this.  Notice Hamilton's teammates don't even check on him as he rolls on the floor and screams in pain.  They know he's faking and are embarrassed.  When is he actually hurt?  No one knows.

He wears a mask.  Brilliant annoying strategy.  Now whenever he wants to complain to the ref, he points out how his mask is slightly ajar.  For extra annoyance, he spends 2 minutes fixing his mask before free throws.  He even had Antonio McDyess wearing one every 3rd game.  Tonight, ESPN had a half-time segment, "Behind the Mask".  I couldn't watch as I would have kicked my TV in pure annoyance.  I have limits to what I can handle.  Next season he will probably wear a helmet.  In 2010 he will play basketball in a plastic bubble.

  @ this post. I totally agree.

[X Man]

I actually know Rip and have played against him and I must say he never pulled none of this nonsense in pick up games cause he knows he would get his rear kicked and he's too skinny to try to fight.  It's straight up retarded the crap they let him get away in NBA and as far as that strained elbow he suffered tonight? I must say its well earned since he had his open hand in Ray Allen's face when it happened.  Let's get him and the rest of these clowns OUTTA HERE!!!

[NicaraguanFan]

I actually blame NBA refs more than Rip for this behaviour.  Refs have allowed him all this tricky plays, this would end if refs call at least half the fouls he does on every game.

NF.

[Who]

I love watching Rip Hamilton play, he's a true joy to watch play.

[crownsy]

I love watching Rip Hamilton play, he's a true joy to watch play.

i like to watch him shoot, i find nothing joyous about watching him commit offensive foul after offensive foul and somehow not get called for them.

I'll never understand that, why is he allowed to blatantly tug people off balance and push them into screens as he gets ready to run when for anyone else thats a foul? just veteran rep?

for heavens sake, he put a choke hold on ray UFC style last night to keep him from getting away on a screen and didn't get called.

[Kwhit10]

My favorite Rip-trick this series is when he grabbed Garnet's arm but his grip slipped and he fell backward, and he got the foul called against him... 

[CoachBo]

That "strained elbow" makes me laugh. Hamilton was trying to steal a time out when the Pistons didn't have one.

[86 Celtics]

I am so sick of Mike Breen talking about how well Rip moves without the ball.  Sure, we could all move well without the ball if we were allowed to push or tug our defenders out of the way first.  I swear he does this on every play and I'm screaming at the refs (okay, screaming at my TV while my wife looks at me like I'm a madman).  Watching this series, Rip has officially taken Manu Ginobli's crown as most annoying player in the NBA.